def readAllowedNames () : names = [ ] print("Please enter the allowed names. End with 'done'") while True : name = input("Name:") if name == "done" : break; names.append(name) return names def main () : allowed = readAllowedNames() while True : name = input("Please enter name ") if name in allowed : print("Yes, you may enter") else : print("Sorry, you are not allowed") main()